Longley Dodge has seen a number of changes over the years, but that hasn’t stopped the dealership, located on Route 57 in Fulton, from continuing to grow and thrive.
Longley Dodge started out a body shop in 1947, then started selling GMC trucks in 1956; the dealership sold the brand until the early 1960s. They took on Studebakers in 1959 and sold the iconic models until the brand folded in 1966. In 1963, the shop started selling Dodge vehicles, and they’ve been doing business that way ever since.
So what accounts for their longevity?
“We’re a family organization,” said owner Dennis Longley, who runs the business with his cousin Gene and son Doug. “I think that has a lot to do with it, especially since we’re in a small community. People like to come here and know they’re going to get good service.”
And that service isn’t overbearing, Longley said.
“Our sales staff doesn’t pressure you,” he said. “They’re not pushy. We don’t like to operate that way, because it doesn’t really serve the customer as well.”
That’s why people keep coming back.
“A lot of our business is repeat business,” Longley said. “People come back to us.”
And if there is a problem, people know they can go to the top to find a solution.
“The buck stops at my desk,” Longley said.
Longley said to look for a new addition to their lineup this year.
“We’ve got a new car coming out this summer – the Dodge Dart,” he said. “It’s a small, four-door car with midsize car room in the interior that gets up to 40 miles per gallon. It was the hit of the Detroit Auto Show in January. Watch our website [longleydodge.com] for future information on this vehicle.”
Longley Dodge, which has been on the web for more than 10 years, continues to grow. It is one of only a few dealers that have pictures and pricing online, with up to 25-plus pictures of each vehicle. The dealership is on Facebook and Twitter, just launched its mobile website for Smart Devices and has one of the fastest response times of any dealership.
Due to customer demand, the service department is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
Longley Dodge is located at 1698 Route 57, just south of Fulton. They can be reached at 598-2135 or at longleydodge.com.
